Hypothetically , if the Lions and the bears both had better records than the other teams trying for a wildcard spot in the NFC, could three teams from the same division get in ? I don't know Ive ever seen that done before, but looking at their records it seems possible.

Joined: October 20th, 2004, 4:16 pmPosts: 10408Location: Where ever I'm at now

Re: Playoff question?

Ferris wrote:

Hypothetically , if the Lions and the bears both had better records than the other teams trying for a wildcard spot in the NFC, could three teams from the same division get in ? I don't know Ive ever seen that done before, but looking at their records it seems possible.

Yes, they would. Best record means exactly that.

If Dallas wins the NFC East, and Philly somehow pulls out a miracle and ends up with an identical record to Chicago, with Dallas and Washington out of the hunt and the Giants winning the East at years end, Chicago will go to the playoffs, assuming that Detroit and Green Bay are going as well.

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November 8th, 2011, 10:27 am

Ferris

Pro Bowl Player

Joined: April 19th, 2005, 2:10 pmPosts: 2478Location: Michigan

Re: Playoff question?

It would be kinda weird. I guess since two NFC north teams were in the championship last season, its not that much of a stretch though.

I think it comes down to the NFC North and AFC North. In the NFC North, you have the Packers, who are clearly the class of the league. Then the Lions are next, and we'll see if they are truly for real or if they're slightly over-achieving so far. The Bears aren't truly contenders yet. They just aren't that good. Minny is a mess.

In the AFC, both the Ravens and the Steelers are scary teams. Tough as hell and not a team I'd want to face in the playoffs. Then there's Cincy. I don't think they are for real. They've had a pretty easy schedule so far and will come back to earth. Cleveland is terrible.

So, in my opinion, there's probably a slight advantage to the NFC North, but not much. It's pretty even I think.

_________________"Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence." - John Adams

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November 8th, 2011, 2:47 pm

DJ-B

Pro Bowl Player

Joined: April 5th, 2007, 5:51 pmPosts: 2578

Re: Playoff question?

Ferris wrote:

They were talking about the strongest division in football the other day, and the NFC North wasn't even mentioned.

Its like the Pro Bowl Voting. Its more of how the past plays out in their heads.

The NFC North and AFC North (I think - Bengals, Steelers, Ravens, Browns Div) are easily the best 2 divisions in football this year. To not even mention the NFC North in the discussion is just plain retarded.

November 8th, 2011, 4:26 pm

m2karateman

RIP Killer

Joined: October 20th, 2004, 4:16 pmPosts: 10408Location: Where ever I'm at now

Re: Playoff question?

Unfortunately you are going to have folks who look at the Lions and say "they haven't beaten anybody". They don't see the teams we've beaten as being "legitimate". We lost to Atlanta and San Francisco, and both of them are seen as "strong" teams.

I would bet most people think the NFC South is REALLY good, mostly because they have New Orleans and Atlanta. Carolina and Tampa Bay aren't taken into consideration. In the NFC North, it's largely..."there's the Packers, and everyone else."

The AFC East is probably considered by some as the strongest division, since they have the Patriots and the Jets. Nevermind that both teams have struggled this season. Buffalo is 5-3, so put those three together, and you have a strong division. The fact that Miami sucks isn't an issue.

The AFC North and the NFC North each have 21 wins between their respective teams. I think it's clear who the two bad boys in the play yard are.

_________________I will not put on blinders when it comes to our QBs performances.

They were talking about the strongest division in football the other day, and the NFC North wasn't even mentioned.

Its like the Pro Bowl Voting. Its more of how the past plays out in their heads.

The NFC North and AFC North (I think - Bengals, Steelers, Ravens, Browns Div) are easily the best 2 divisions in football this year. To not even mention the NFC North in the discussion is just plain retarded.

Who was talking about it?

I don't get how you can't even mention the NFC North, with Packers so good and Lions on the rising and Bears being an average team.

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November 8th, 2011, 8:03 pm

inheritedlionsfan

League MVP

Joined: January 13th, 2006, 4:18 amPosts: 3680Location: Maryland

Re: Playoff question?

Ferris wrote:

Hypothetically , if the Lions and the bears both had better records than the other teams trying for a wildcard spot in the NFC, could three teams from the same division get in ? I don't know Ive ever seen that done before, but looking at their records it seems possible.

Yes. The NFC East sent 3 teams to the playoffs in 2007. And their 4th place team that year was Philly at 8-8.

November 10th, 2011, 1:26 am

Growler

Butkus Award Winner

Joined: April 8th, 2010, 3:24 pmPosts: 589

Re: Playoff question?

Ferris wrote:

Hypothetically , if the Lions and the bears both had better records than the other teams trying for a wildcard spot in the NFC, could three teams from the same division get in ? I don't know Ive ever seen that done before, but looking at their records it seems possible.

In the 1993-94 season, the Lions, the Vikings, and the Fudgepackers made the playoffs. Detroit (10-6) won the division with the Vikings (9-7) and Fudgepackers (9-7) getting two of the three wild card spots. Of course, this was before the three divisions were split into four divisions, but I don't see what difference that makes since all three are in the same division now. The Fudgepackers beat the Lions and the Giants beat the Vikings. Then the Cowpokers beat the Fudgepackers on their way to a Superbowl win over poor Buffalo.

I think it comes down to the NFC North and AFC North. In the NFC North, you have the Packers, who are clearly the class of the league. Then the Lions are next, and we'll see if they are truly for real or if they're slightly over-achieving so far. The Bears aren't truly contenders yet. They just aren't that good. Minny is a mess.

In the AFC, both the Ravens and the Steelers are scary teams. Tough as hell and not a team I'd want to face in the playoffs. Then there's Cincy. I don't think they are for real. They've had a pretty easy schedule so far and will come back to earth. Cleveland is terrible.

So, in my opinion, there's probably a slight advantage to the NFC North, but not much. It's pretty even I think.

The Super Bowl last year was the NFC North against the AFC North.

Look for next year to have a lot more NFC North divisional games on national television.